To donate or not?

[sunshine98]

Today a musician was setting up in the parking lot near Target. I appreciate someone trying to do something (provide entertainment in this case) to earn money. I was all set to toss some money in the busker's case when I came out of the store, when I noticed two signs. The musician had a sign that said something to the effect "Two kids, no money for rent" and the Target had a "we're hiring at $15 an hour" sign. Ummm, if you need money, why aren't you applying to work?

 

[Blister]

He/she is an "Artist", to perform mere labor would cheapen their gift to the world.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

The Target job would interfere with section 8.

 

[rio]

I wonder if it's the same one that was outside of Food Lion in Leonardtown Friday. He was playing a violin over a loud speaker, had his 2 kids with him, looked like he may have been Hispanic. The music wasn't bad ..

 

[Gilligan]

I've traveled most of the world over the last 40 years, for my marine engineering work. I could never begin to count the number of awesome musicians I've encountered along the way...making their living playing outside the huge train stations like Hamburg, Oslo, Amsterdam, Cologne, Berlin, Oostende, Brest, Esbjerg, Grimsby, Southampton, Dover, St,. Peterport, etc etc etc. etc etc

We - and I use "we" very loosely...- we don't see a lot of the rest of the world. And never will.

 

[PJay]

If enjoyed the entertainment I would most likely give some money. Hey, I like music.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

Today a musician was setting up in the parking lot near Target. I appreciate someone trying to do something (provide entertainment in this case) to earn money. I was all set to toss some money in the busker's case when I came out of the store, when I noticed two signs. The musician had a sign that said something to the effect "Two kids, no money for rent" and the Target had a "we're hiring at $15 an hour" sign. Ummm, if you need money, why aren't you applying to work?

Probably because he'll likely make more per hour busking than working retail at Target.

 

[LightRoasted]

If I may ...

Nordstroms at one time, (not sure if they still do), always had a piano player playing the piano. Never tipped them though.

For the OP, seems too much like a scam. It is saying with that sign, 'I'm throwing all my dignity out the window and prostituting myself with music in the hopes someone will take pity on my situation and toss some bills my way', if it is true. It's just simple pan handling, with music thrown in for good measure. The correct sign should be, "Struggling artist" with some off comical font with funny imagines, even if it is true he had no money for rent and two kids. That would take the psychological edge off the giver to appreciate the music being played and the actions of the artist, and if enjoyable, the giver may in fact give, or not.

 

[mitzi]

Today a musician was setting up in the parking lot near Target. I appreciate someone trying to do something (provide entertainment in this case) to earn money. I was all set to toss some money in the busker's case when I came out of the store, when I noticed two signs. The musician had a sign that said something to the effect "Two kids, no money for rent" and the Target had a "we're hiring at $15 an hour" sign. Ummm, if you need money, why aren't you applying to work?

Maybe they have applied and haven't heard back for an interview yet. Most of these stores don't hire you and start you immediately. They have to schedule orientations, some drug test, etc. after they offer you a job.

 

[BernieP]

You see it in bigger cities, they leave their case open, sometimes with a sign that just says "Tips or Tip Appreciated".
I don't know how much they can make, and now they would probably get mugged for the few bucks that were in there.

 

[Sneakers]

I'm a real cynic when it comes to giving money to people on the street. I feel for those that could really use it, but pizzed as hell at those that beg and then drive away in a new car and make more than I do and don't report any of it. Since you don't know who's legit and who's not, nada.

 

[Grumpy]

The sign would have made me not tip. If a case is open or there's a tip jar, if I like the music, I would tip.

Something about this would have made me tip..

 

[vraiblonde]

In NYC people make a good living performing on the street for tips. No doubt it's more than $15/hr.

 

[vraiblonde]

Look at the money they made during that 2-minute video. They're definitely not going to downgrade to Target.

 

[my-thyme]

I've gotten so I really hate taking FDR behind Lowes to get to St Andrews. There's a guy standing there, his sign says "Homeless not Hopeless, anything will help". I guess people give him cigarettes, he's usually smoking one.

 

[RoseRed]

I've gotten so I really hate taking FDR behind Lowes to get to St Andrews. There's a guy standing there, his sign says "Homeless not Hopeless, anything will help". I guess people give him cigarettes, he's usually smoking one.

I've seen him there and also at the other entrance.

 

[Sneakers]

Is that the guy with the walker that works from Michaels back to WalMart? He's hit me more than once while getting out of my truck in front of Giant.

 

[PJay]

Maybe they have applied and haven't heard back for an interview yet. Most of these stores don't hire you and start you immediately. They have to schedule orientations, some drug test, etc. after they offer you a job.

Maybe his wife is working in Target and he's doing his gig outside and taking care of the kids. We don't know. Things are such a mess after all the closings, etc. All the people that lost their businesses and homes. Things are a mess...it takes time to get back on your feet when you've had them knocked out from underneath you.

 

[mitzi]

I saw a video from a London subway of Paul McCartney walking over and putting money in a bucket to a guy singing and playing guitar. It wasn't a photo op, a girl got it with her phone.

 

[mitzi]

I'm a real cynic when it comes to giving money to people on the street. I feel for those that could really use it, but pizzed as hell at those that beg and then drive away in a new car and make more than I do and don't report any of it. Since you don't know who's legit and who's not, nada.

I have given sometimes but NOT to the ones who come up and give you a sob story (out of gas, out of medicine, etc.). I don't believe them. I rarely carry any cash or change now anyway.